Grain-sprouter.



A. H. WHEAT. GRAIN SPROUTEB.. APPLIoATIoN FILED APRJB, 1911.

'UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

\ ALFRED H. WHEAT, 0F HORSEHEADS, NEW YORK.

GRAIN-SPROUTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 2,1912.

Application filed April 18, 1911. Serial No. 621,743.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED H. VHEAT, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Horseheads, in the county of Chernung and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Sprouters, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements ingrain sprouters.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a light, simplyconstructed, ine-X- pensive cabinet, serving as a hot house in which tosprout certain grains and seeds, to be used as green food for chicks andfowls.

A further object is to provide a ventilated heating chamber, including asafety heating lamp, hot air chamber, a series of superposed trays and atop lid serving as a valve.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists inthecombination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter morefully described and finally pointed out in the appended claim, it beingfurther understood that changes in the specic structure shown anddescribed may be made within the scope of the claim, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in theseveral views: Figure 1, is a perspective view of a `grain sprouterembodying my invention. Fig. 2, is a vertical sectional view, and Figs.3 and 4, show certain details of construction.

In poultry culture it is found that chicks prosper and hens lay morefertile eggs, When they are fed green food during the winter months orin case of drouths in summer. In this connection it has been discoveredthat certain seeds and grains moistened and placed in a gently heatedchamber, will sprout, providing a green wholesome food greatly relishedby the birds.

In my present invention I provide a cheap, conveniently arranged cabinetin which cert-ain grains can be sprouted in four to five days, fit forfeeding purposes, the seed forming a solid mass of crisp rootlets withtender green top growths or stalks.

In carrying out the aim of my invention I employ a. bottom 1, to which Isecure the two similar ends 2, and the back 4. .The

5, by means of suitable hinges. Secured in horizontal parallel spacedrelation to the sides 2, are a plurality of cleats 20, each cleat havinga projecting ledge 2l. These ledges project beyond the front battens 7as disclosed. Removably held upon the projecting ledges 21, are a seriesof trays, each tray comprising a four sided frame 23, to which issecured a metal bottom 24, having one or more drain openings. Thelowermost cleat 20, is provided with an asbestos strip 21 and heldwithin the two lowermost cleats and resting upon the asbestos strip 21,are four horizontally disposed outstanding pins 22. Resting upon thesepins is a sheet metal hot air chamber 27, having the vent openings 28. e

Held within the cabinet below the hot air chamber 27 is a safety lamp30, of any approved construction.

The front of the cabinet is closed by means of a door frame 10,vertically-connected to one of the front battens 7, this door framebeing covered by means of a. fabric 1l. As shown, the outside isprotected by means of a Wire netting 12. The sides 2, as well as thecleats 20, are provided With suitable vent openings. At a suitable pointwithin the cabinet, I have placed one or more thermometers.

The operation of my invention is very simple. The grain to be sproutedis placed within the trays and moistened. The lamp is then started sothat the moistened grain or seed is subjected to a gentle heat. The heatafter circulating about the trays finally escapes out of the upper ventopenings a. As soon as the grain has sprouted to a suitable height theentire mass is removed and used as a green feed. Ventilation is also hadby means of the top door.

In Fig. 1, a cabinet is shown holding four trays. In such a cabinet onetray could be filled each day and set one division upward everytwenty-four hours, so that one tray of sprouted gra-in may be removedeach construction and both durable and eiicient,

in operation.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A cabinet of the character described, embracing a connected bottom,ends, and back, two similar front battens secured to said bottom andends, a top skirt connecting said two battens at their upper ends, afour sided flat frame secured to said battens, skirt, ends, and back, ahorizontally disposed top door frame hinged to said flat frame, a glassplate being` inserted within said top door -horizontally extending fromsaid lowermost ledges and resting upon said strips, an aperturedmetallic hot air chamber removably held below said trays and upon saidpins, and a. safety lamp located below said chamber, all arrangedsubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED H. WHEAT.

Witnesses: Y

HARRY J. ELWooD, C. M. BoTsroRD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

